Biotech in brief

Melbourne’s BioDiem has received another milestone payment from partner Nobilon for the duo’s intranasal flu vaccine agreement.

The payment of $1 million brings the total to $6 million in milestones from Nobilon, a subsidiary of Schering Plough.

BioDiem has licensed the majority of rights to its live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) to Nobilon for overseas markets. Clinical trials are expected to begin next year.

Also flu-ridden, results from animal trials of Anadis antibody technology will be presented at the Australasian Society of Immunology conference in Canberra next week.

The trials, carried out by the University of Melbourne’s Professor Lorena Brown, involve topical application of bovine colostrum-derived virus antibodies on mucosal surfaces.

Anadis, which recently changed its name to Immuron, is developing the technology, called Flubody, to provide immune enhancement against influenza and bird flu.

Human trials are expected to begin next year.